| IRRI Welcomes Rice Research Debate in Thailand |
|
|
|
| Tuesday, 06 November 2001 | |
|
Los Baños - The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) welcomes the recent debate in the Thai media over the development of new rice varieties and the international system for the exchange of rice germplasm. The institute’s deputy director general for partnerships, William Padolina, pointed out that such strong public interest in rice research was long overdue, especially considering the importance of rice farming and commerce to countries such as Thailand. “While the issues involved are quite complex and complicated,” Dr. Padolina said, “we hope such interest will continue, because the rice industry in Asia faces many great challenges in the near future.” Dr. Padolina confirmed that the samples of jasmine rice used in research by a Florida University scientist, as recently reported in Thailand, did come from the institute. “We have been sharing rice varieties with many countries, including Thailand, for more than 40 years,” Dr. Padolina said. “In 1995, IRRI shared a sample of Khao Dawk Mali with Dr. Neil Rutger at the USDA’s Dale Bumpers Rice Research Center, a publicly funded institution in Arkansas with a long history of good collaboration with IRRI.” No material transfer agreement (MTA) was used for this exchange, because it was a time of transition to a new system. Before October 1994, no MTAs were required. On his own initiative, Dr. Rutger then passed this jasmine rice sample to Chris Deren in Florida, according to both researchers. “Both scientists have since publicly agreed to accept all the terms and conditions in the MTA and have issued signed letters saying so,” Dr. Padolina said. “It should be clearly understood by all concerned that it would be very difficult for Dr. Deren to patent any results of his research concerning jasmine rice, and he has publicly stated he would not seek any patents. It is also important to note that American rice breeders have been trying for years to improve the quality of their rice to match Thailand’s but have been unable to do so,” Dr. Padolina explained. “It is incorrect to suggest that Thai rice farmers may suffer as a result of the sharing of such rice varieties,” Dr. Padolina added. “On the contrary, anybody who took the time to study the results of rice research over the past 40 years would see very clearly that Thai rice farmers have in fact gained enormously from the present system, which allows for the open and free exchange of rice varieties from country to country.” Dr. Padolina stressed that IRRI remains firmly committed to ensuring that the rights and interests of Thai rice farmers, and of the millions of other rice farmers across Asia, are fully protected in relation to rice research. “Thailand is particularly important to us because of the special privilege and honor IRRI received many years ago with the awarding of Royal patronage,” Dr Padolina said. Questions and Answers QUES: Please explain how the germplasm was sent to breeders in the U.S. ANS: For more than 40 years, such germplasm exchanges have been the cornerstone of international rice research efforts. There is little doubt that it would have been far more difficult for Thailand to become the world’s leading rice exporter, were it not for such free and open sharing of rice varieties. While it is correct that MTAs were available at the time of this exchange, it was also a time of transition from a system that had been in place for many years. It is also important to note that the exchange would have gone ahead if an MTA had been used. MTAs are now applied to all germplasm exchanges involving the International Rice Genebank at IRRI, and both scientists involved have publicly stated, and issued signed letters confirming, that they will fully observe all the conditions of the MTA. QUES: Why was IRRI silent in recent weeks as the jasmine rice controversy grew? ANS: IRRI was not silent. We responded promptly to a request from the Thai Foreign Ministry for information about the transfer, sending a letter on 18 October. IRRI’s first and foremost priority is serving the interests of rice farmers and research collaborators—in Thailand, our excellent research partners in the Department of Agriculture and elsewhere in the Kingdom. As it seemed unlikely that many Thai rice farmers have time to read Bangkok newspapers or follow such debates on TV, we focused on discussions with our Thai research partners and ensuring that the Royal Thai government had all the facts it needed to make the necessary decisions in relation to jasmine rice. Additionally, it is IRRI’s firm policy not to comment on or otherwise get involved in the domestic debates of its research partners. Now that we have been invited by the Royal Thai Department of Agriculture to issue a public statement on the jasmine rice story, we are happy to do so, in the hope we can correct the many inaccuracies being reported by the media. We congratulate the Royal Thai government on its sensitive handling of this difficult and complex story. QUES: International farmer rights groups have speculated that Thailand might still not know about the jasmine rice seed transfer, had Reuters not reported on Dr. Deren’s experiment. What is IRRI’s reply? ANS: All of IRRI’s research and germplasm exchanges are a matter of public record. The information was there for any journalist who took the time to find it. While we are always very concerned to maintain and protect our international reputation, we are confident—because we have spoken to them already—that all of our most important stakeholders fully understand and accept our role in the exchange of jasmine rice samples. More broadly, there are no secrets in international rice research. We have been disappointed in the past that Thai media outlets have shown little interest in rice research and the many important issues related to rice production; we would encourage them to pay more attention. IRRI is committed to being a completely open and transparent organization, and we are happy to welcome visitors to our headquarters in the Philippines, especially if they are from the media. QUES: There have been reports that Dr. Deren signed a contract with IRRI saying he would not patent jasmine rice germplasm, but that the contract is confidential. Is this true? ANS: We assume the contract referred to is the MTA, which does not allow patenting and which Dr. Deren has already publicly agreed to accept. The MTA is certainly not confidential as it has been posted on our Web site (www.irri.org/GRC/mta/mta.htm) for some time. Once again, we would stress two key points: firstly that Drs. Rutger and Deren would find it very difficult to patent any of their jasmine rice research, even if this was their intention; secondly that such germplasm exchanges are open and transparent transactions and not cloaked in secrecy. QUES: IRRI policy opposes the use of patents on any germplasm it holds in trust, but what mechanism exists to assure countries that deposit seeds in the International Rice Genebank that this policy will be respected? ANS: IRRI takes very seriously its responsibilities as an exchanger of rice germplasm and would take all appropriate action if it found that someone had ignored the conditions of the MTA and sought a patent on germplasm obtained from the institute. IRRI would also inform the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the infraction, and the FAO would take action against the offenders, as the materials are designated under the organization. Another important mechanism is public and media attention, as we have seen in the past few weeks. That is one reason why we welcome the Thai media’s new interest in rice research. If a breeder somehow succeeded in getting a patent in any particular country, it would apply to other countries only to the extent that their governments would be willing to enforce it in the face of public criticism. It is our sincere hope that the developments of recent weeks involving jasmine rice will result in the Thai media continuing to report on rice research, and the Royal Thai government giving more support to both its own rice researchers and international rice research in general. IRRI is the world’s leading international rice research and training center. Based in the Philippines and with offices in 11 other countries, it is an autonomous, nonprofit institution focused on improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers, particularly those with low incomes, while preserving natural resources. IRRI is one of 16 Future Harvest centers funded by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), an association of public and private donor agencies. For more information, visit the websites of CGIAR (www.cgiar.org) or Future Harvest (www.futureharvest.org). Future Harvest is a nonprofit organization that builds awareness and supports food and environmental research for a world with less poverty, a healthier human family, well-nourished children, and a better environment. Future Harvest supports research, promotes partnerships, and sponsors projects that bring the results of agricultural research to rural communities, farmers, and families in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. |